Sports ramblings…with a Yankees bias!

“It is high, it is far, it is gone”…

Hello, he’s back…

I had been curious about how Jason Giambi felt about his impending return to the Bronx this weekend. I read an article in The Denver Post where Giambi talked about how special New York was and what it was like to play on the same field as DiMaggio, Gehrig, Ruth, Mantle and others. What he didn’t know was the type of reaction that he would receive. The New York fans can be tough (obviously) but I really expected a warm reception for the Giambino. Unlike his departure from Oakland (the first time), he didn’t leave New York at the prime of his career and while Oakland had wanted to re-sign Giambi, the Yankees had clearly moved on. So, his departure was really the team’s decision and not his.

Howard Simmons/New York Daily News

Giambi had some difficult years in pinstripes and of course his stay will always be marred by the steroid admission. But he persevered and I felt that he played hard through the duration of the contract. I am thankful for the years that he gave New York and I certainly wish him the very best in the sunset days of his playing career.

I just wish that he wouldn’t have homered off A.J. Burnett in Friday night’s game. But I guess if you are going to throw a 2-0 meatball, I guess that Ozzie Smith could have hit a home run. Well, on second thought, Giambi’s home run was not the reason the Yankees lost so maybe it was good for old times sake. “G” didn’t get to play at the new Yankee Stadium so he deserved a chance to shine at the new grounds. He’ll be back. After his playing days are over, it is a certainty that he’ll get an invitation to future Old Timer’s Days.

Joe Torre knew when to get out…

If there is one former Yankee that I want to succeed more than any other, it is Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. The entire Dodger situation with Frank McCourt’s divorce, the team’s financial struggles and the league’s intervention just sickens me. It is hard to believe that the two teams struggling the most right now are in the nation’s top two markets. The Dodgers franchise has been one of the top organizations throughout the history of baseball, and they deserve so much better than the current situation.

Ben Liebenberg/US Presswire

If the Dodgers resort to a fire sale next month, I am fearful of the adverse impact it will have on the perception of Mattingly as a manager. It would be hard for anyone to succeed under those conditions. I don’t know that I’d want to see Mark Cuban as the next Dodgers owner, but I am hopeful that McCourt will sell the team to an owner or ownership group that would move quickly to restore the respect for the great franchise.

Stay Cash, stay…

I read Buster Olney’s piece that Brian Cashman may walk after the end of the season. His contract expires this year and there will be no discussion of an extension until after the season. I can’t imagine the Yankees without Cashman as the GM. I couldn’t begin to fully understand the daily pressure the guy must be under, but I have to believe that working for Hank and Hal Steinbrenner is significantly better than what it must have been like under George Steinbrenner. If Cashman is looking for a break, I could see him walk away for a year or two. He’d certainly have his choice of opportunities when/if he decided to return. A new challenge or opportunity can be good, but it wouldn’t be the Yankees. That’s not an arrogant statement, but just a simple observation that the Yankees are the most storied and legendary team in baseball (sorry Dodgers!).

I could see the desire to build a winner without the perception that you have the most dollars to play with. But I hope that Cashman ultimately decides to stay in New York and continues his long run as one of the greatest GM’s in Yankee history.

Enjoy the weekend!…

–Scott

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I’ve always thought that having a smart GM like Cashman gave the Yankees more of an advantage than their payroll. Yeah, he went out and signed Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixieira, but he also made some shrewd trades for Swisher and Granderson. I don’t know how much he has to do with the farm system, but it seems to be thriving under his watch, despite the fact that the Yankees never get a high draft pick. I think I speak for the rest of the AL when I say I hope he decides to take a break ;)

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